Complete Wii U Nintendo Direct Roundup

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata unleashed Wii U news in an installment of Nintendo Direct today as he outlined Nintendo’s future plans for the console. Iwata revealed how the Wii U launch lineup will be bolstered by a long list of top game franchises headed for the new console. These are games that longtime players and newcomers alike will love to play, and everyone will be experiencing them in new ways, thanks to the integrated second-screen experiences enabled by the Wii U GamePad controller. Iwata also detailed a number of enhancements designed to make the Wii U game experience more social, even if people are not playing in the same room.

“The fun of video games is not only just playing games, but also sharing experiences together with people – even though they live far away, their skill levels are different or their experience does not happen at the same time,” Iwata said. “We want Wii U to be the system that brings everyone together.”

Game News

Two Zelda Games: Eiji Aonuma, the producer of The Legend of Zelda series, revealed two entries in the series for Wii U.

Super Mario is on His Way: The Nintendo EAD Tokyo Software Development team that created the Super Mario Galaxy games for Wii and Super Mario 3D Land for Nintendo 3DS is working on a new 3D Mario action game for Wii U. The game is scheduled to be playable at this year’s E3.

Buckle Up!: Nintendo is also working on a new installment of the hit Mario Kart franchise. This game is also planned to be playable at E3.

Yarn Yoshi: The team that created Kirby’s Epic Yarn is hard at work on the first console game to feature Yoshi as the main character since 1998’s Yoshi’s Story for Nintendo 64. Takashi Tezuka, director of Yoshi’s Island and Yoshi’s Story, is supervising the development of the new game, which is set in a fanciful world of yarn and textiles.

Wii Fit U Communities: New features coming to Wii Fit U include letting players create user communities on Miiverse from within the game. Community members can discuss exercises, BMI or weight changes and other health topics with other players as a way to encourage one another to reach their fitness goals. Similar functionality for other games is also planned.

Pikmin 3 Photos: The upcoming Pikmin 3 game includes a feature that lets players use the Wii U GamePad as a camera to share the same perspective as Pikmin and take close-up pictures of landscapes and creatures in the game and share them in Miiverse.

The Party Continues: A new installment in the Wii Party franchise is planned to launch this summer. The game features various play styles, including one that lets both players compete head-to-head using just the GamePad.

RPG Mashup: Nintendo has begun many collaborations with outside development partners to bring the best franchises and experiences to Wii U. In one such partnership, Nintendo and Atlus are working on a collaboration that features the Fire Emblem and Shin Megami Tensei franchises. A video trailer for the game was shown in the Nintendo Direct.

A New Game from Monolith Soft: Tetsuya Takahashi and the team at Monolith Soft that worked on Xenoblade for Wii are working on a new game. A video trailer for the game was shown in the Nintendo Direct.

More on the Way: Iwata shared a new trailer for The Wonderful 101. That game and GAME & WARIO are scheduled to launch in the first half of 2013. Iwata also showed a new video for Bayonetta 2. That game and the new Super Smash Bros. installment are still on the way, but will need more development time before details can be revealed.

Virtual Console

Virtual Console for Wii U: A spring system update will add Virtual Console software to the Nintendo eShop for Wii U. The service will launch right after the spring update and will include a selection of NES and Super NES games, with Game Boy Advance games to be added in the future. The prices for NES and Super NES Virtual Console games for Wii U will be the same as they were for the Virtual Console on Wii. People who have already purchased the Wii version of a certain NES or Super NES Virtual Console game and transferred it to their Wii U console can buy the enhanced Wii U version of the same game for the reduced price of $1 for NES games and $1.50 for Super NES games.

Classic Games for 30 Cents! To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of the Famicom in Japan (which was known as the NES in the United States), Nintendo is making one NES or Super NES game available each month now through July at the anniversary price of just 30 cents. Each game will be available at that price for 30 days, and the first is the NES game Balloon Fight, which is now available in the Nintendo eShop for Wii U.

Social and System Enhancements

Miiverse Expands to Smartphones: Starting this spring, people will be able to browse Miiverse from their smartphones. Initially the experience will be browser-based, but Nintendo plans to create a dedicated Miiverse app in the future.

System Updates: Two major updates are on the way, one in the spring and one in the summer. The updates will introduce a wide range of functionality, such as Virtual Console capabilities and shortening the time it takes users to launch software or return to the menu screen.

I have to admit, i went in being disapointed. No gamecube virtual console announced and some stuff that i’d never heard of? that was worrying. then we got these AMAZING titles, gee. this is why playstation sucks. the end. XD

It was mearly a joke. I dont like sony, but i just inserted it crudely into the comment just to be stupid. thats why i added in the ‘The End XD’ but, i dunno, its playstation 3 which i dont like, but i loved the first 2. is that wierd?

no same here my reason for ps3 was actually kingdom hearts 3 but nothing and if it’s being released for ps4 I’ll force square to do Real sequel Chrono Trigger. Chrono Cross wasn’t bad at all but it didn’t give the same feeling Chrono Trigger especially the story. maybe it’s just Akira Toriyamas magic pen because i loved Chrono Trigger before even playing it

This is almost too much awesomeness for one day, I’m on overload…speaking of, where is Michael Pachter today? *Sees child crying and shaking in corner* Oh there you are Mikey! And here I thought you wouldn’t make it through today…

-One Week Later-
“I just don’t know what Nintendo is doing. I mean sure they revealed some stuff, but if they don’t bring out some really big guns and soon, and pay every third party under the sun to produce exclusive games for them, and start licking my balls, its likely that Nintendo won’t make it through this generation, and may become just another Sega, developing software for other systems and phones, which are the future of gaming…” — Michael Pachter, Whacko Attacko

No, rewatch the video, I don’t know how people are confused. The promotion PERIOD is 30 days, you don’t only get to play it for 30 days. You can buy the game for 30 cents within 30 days, the game lasts forever on your Wii U.

Yes, as it OTHER virtual console games. Balloon Fight is the first title at 30 cents. He hopes you realize the fun of the NEW features like off-tv play, save states, control customization is what you’ll see in ALL titles, so by getting a chance to play Balloon Fight, you will see the worth in OTHER virtual console games, even the ones not being 30 cents.

The “Trial” is the virtual console. The test is to see how many people will buy Balloon Fight. It’s like the 3DS Ambassador program, they don’t charge you to upgrade Mario, Legend of Zelda, Balloon Fight, etc. You have Balloon Fight on Wii U just like any virtual title on 3DS and ones existing on Wii U.

I started watching the direct and felt it was rather boring and figured it was going to be a total let down. Then they started just kicking me in the wallet, so many awesome stuff is coming and its got me super excited lol

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I agree with you on the gba games. I hope they can get all of the wii virtual console games (and save files) onto the wii-u. I dont know how much effort it takes to put these games on the wii-u but I can’t imagine it being that difficult

Just like Ocarina of Time? I don’t think it’s fair unless it’s both ways.

Honestly them sharing to both is a good thing and boosts their libraries which I think is the reasoning behind this move. Think about it: the President mentioned that games cost more money and take more time to develop and Nintendo recently announced they were trying to consolidate their development teams under one roof. This way they could provide more games to both systems at a faster and cheaper pace.

Pokémon is a great example because it is ridiculously popular and would sell leaps and bounds above its current if it were to sell on the Wii U. I’m not going to argue about what makes a franchise better solely on a handheld or console because that doesn’t have anything to do with my points; ie more money for Nintendo and more games for customers. If developers want to put console games on a handheld, it is only fair to provide handheld games to a console.

Out of curiosity, why are you upset that Nintendo handheld games (old ones at that) will be sold on a Nintendo console? It’s not like they are selling them to another platform. Is there really anything wrong with more Nintendo fans enjoying the same games you love? More happy customers and more money for developers to continue making great games sounds like a win/win to me.

I was very impressed with this Nintendo Direct (besides the pointless seven minutes they spent showing off Miiverse in the beginning). It is vital that Nintendo shows it’s hand at E3 this year and they pretty much confirmed they will. We will see a 3D Mario, Mario Kart, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD, as well as much more that will surely excite people to buy Wii U. I don’t think Nintendo fans have anything to worry about this generation and Nintendo is most certainly not doomed.

I came late, but I came none the less. Thanks nintendo, three system sellers and a whole bunch of awesomeness for my itching thumbs and fingers. Great direct, this will make waiting for E3 a breeze now. MONOLITHSOFT taking over folks, RETRO where Art thou?

Well, I wasn’t very impressed by announcements of games already known to be coming and the utter lack of footage for them. Yoshi and Xenosomething seem very impressive though. At least it sounds like E3 will be huge this year. Does anyone else think the Fire Emblem crossover sounds terrible? I think Fire Emblem should stay Fire Emblem. And where was Retro’s project???

I think Nintendo is saving Retro’s game for E3 so they can show the rest of the gaming industry that they mean business along with the 3D Mario, Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros.
For me Nintendo has already won E3 in my book’s and I don’t care what else Microsoft or Sony announce as I’m not going to take it back.
NINTENDO FTW Forever.

Everything was great news except yoshi, like honestly why would you want a game that looks like yarn? I’d like to say I hope the graphics change but I know they won’t. Also I probly won’t get wind waker as I own the gamecube one. However if nintendo for some reason makes system wide achievements then I’ll buy it for sure.

Reblogged this on hypersonic55 and commented:
Today’s Nintendo Direct has been one of surprise, happiness and excitement. The announcements made in today’s video were great and finally addressed some of the stuff gamers have been asking for from Nintendo for quite some time. Firstly the system updates for the Wii U is a good start and then there’s the Virtual Console for Wii U too. This was good signs for the future, Nintendo were not only addressing their problems but implementing all of te good stuff we’ve come to enjoy from them in the past.
But then there’s all of those new games on the horizon! Two Zelda games? A new 3D Mario game and new Mario Kart? Visual confirmation of Super Smash Bros. 4? All of these titles visible at e3 this year? Oh god I was grinning so much when I heard these announcements. I can’t wait for 2013 to roll on for Nintendo, it looks like it’ll be an interesting year.

so wheres all the fagots saying that nintendo sucks on this site and has no life, looks like the wii u already surpassed the wii and gamecube, looks like they already have more exclusives than the xbox 360 and ps3 steam is going to kill one of the two, maybe, we didnt even get retros project yet and these games are coming out in the first two years, nintendo looks like they might be shaping up

Aside from the incredible software announcements, I was surprised and very happy to see the Miiverse changes on there. We’ll be able to sift through comments, create additional groups and chat with officials for our games. I’m hoping that means developers because a direct link to developers means a better chance to make the games that much better.

I hope that in the future I’ll be able to customize my Miiverse, but also WaraWara Plaza and my home tile page. Just imagine turning on your console to find different loading screens, backgrounds, themes, your own tiles in WaraWara and even additional customised features in Miiverse.

The virtual console announcement was a little less surprising, but still provided a relief. Looking forward to their lineup and hope to see some old favorites like Donkey Kong Country. I’m ecstatic that a GC game is coming to the Wii U finally and might just pave the way for things like the complete Metroid Prime series (I’ve sadly yet to play them or any other GC game for that matter).

I don’t really want to gush about games in this post as I could talk about those announcements all day, but holy cow those games look beautiful! I feel this really is Nintendo’s year.

It started off slowly with all the talk of the updates for the OS and the Virtual Console, but once Iwata started talking about games, it was hit, after hit, after hit. Thank you, Nintendo. For showing people once again why you must never doubt Nintendo. Leave luck to heaven.

All the media and industries knocking Nintendo and WiiU. Well now we can see Nintendo is in good stride. Sony, M’soft, nVidia ‘n’ Valve all have a very strong competitor. Ill likely have nigh on every piece of 1st party (disc) software the WiiU will have.
Sony and M’softs new systems wont be as competitive as ppl think on their launches

AHHHHH!!!!! So many great games comming out!! Now I realllllllly need a WiiU! The Yarn Yoshi looks adorable!!! OMG I’m freaking out!! SO much to look forward to!! E3 is going to be AMAZING this year!!!! XD

I waited while friends told me to just buy Wind Waker. And now… I know I did the right think :*)

Mario Kart U
Zelda HD
Virtual Console U
Monolith Soft’s new game
Wonderful 101 now seems interesting to me
Lego City: Undercover now seems interesting to me
VC games for 30 cents
I can update to the Wii U version of classic games I have already bought for just a dollar/fifty
Miiverse app
Speed up slow OS

And the reason why GBA games are for the Wii U is because maybe instead of doing link cables, people can play with Classic Controllers and an extra person can play with the GamePad. Also, you can play JUST on the GamePad, so GBA games are perfect for it. The GamePad is just like a handheld.